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Entries from January 2011

January 27, 2011

I have wonderful news that will give every animal lover in Virginia an immense sigh of relief. Delegate Lee Ware, the patron of House Bill 2482 which threatened to destroy the ability of our state to prosecute animal abuse crimes and which would have sent helpless abused animals right back to their abusers even post conviction, has announced that he is pulling the bill. He says that he will seek a study to be done on the topics of the bill over the course of the coming year. I have no doubt that any such study, if done by professionals in animal law enforcement, will conclude that the changes to existing law that were set forth in this bill are highly inadvisable.

The response of our supporters to our requests for calls to be made and messages to be sent to Delegate Ware and to the members of the subcommittee before which the bill was to have been heard was massive. Everyone of you who took the time to let these Delegates know how deeply concerning this bill was to you is responsible for this great outcome for the welfare of the most vulnerable animals of all: those who are under the control of abusers. I cannot possibly thank you enough for all you did for them to send a crucial message to our General Assembly. Your message was loud and clear and it was heard. They heard that we want our state to be a place of compassion for animals and a place where their suffering is taken seriously and is appropriately redressed.

The breeders, puppy millers and pet stores who were promoting this dreadful bill have been outed for what they really are. They see the existing abuse and cruelty laws as a threat to their ability to do whatever they wish to the animals that they view as nothing more than a cash crop. If you want to see how crazy and self serving their arguments on this topic were, just take a look at the message board on the Richmond Sunlight website page regarding House Bill 2482. On that message board, you will also see the comments of Waldo Jaquith as he articulately and astutely stands up for the concerns that we share with him for the animals who are at the mercy of these people. Our thanks go to Waldo for his courage and tenacity in standing up to these bullies.

Our thanks also go to all of you who took the time and effort to make your feelings known about this assault on the only means we have to protect animals from those who would abuse them. You let the Delegates know that animals are not without a voice because they have ours and it is strong.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

January 24, 2011

House Bill 2482 has been introduced in the Virginia General Assembly, and it is the most cold-hearted assault on the wellbeing of animals, on abused animals and on the laws that exist in Virginia to protect and care for them that has ever been seen.

The bill, patroned by Delegate Lee Ware of Powhatan, is being promoted by pet dealers and pet stores. If passed, it will eviscerate our 20-year progress on laws for the protection of companion animals in Virginia. It will permit animal abusers to escape any real penalty for their abuse and, most amazingly, will permit convicted animal abusers to retain the very animals that they have been convicted of abusing. To express your concern and disappointment at this brutal assault on abused and defenseless animals, please contact the patron Delegate Ware at 804-698-1165 or alternately via email at DelLWare@house.virginia.gov. Phone calls are preferable because they carry more impact.

We need your help in sending a loud and clear message to the Virginia General Assembly that those of us who love animals will not tolerate this assault on decency and compassion.

There is a synopsis of the bill below. If you are as horrified by House Bill 2482 as I am, please take the few minutes it will require to call or e-mail the members of the House Agriculture Subcommittee and tell them how concerned you are and ask them to vote to defeat this bill. Your call is essential to protect animals who are abused. Please be polite but firm that this bill must be defeated. Please share this message with friends and family, particularly those who might live in one of the jurisdictions below.

The chairman of the Agriculture, Conservation and Natural Resources Committee is DelHMorgan@house.virginia.gov, who represents Gloucester, and his number is 804-698-1098. The Speaker of the House is DelWHowell@house.virginia.gov, whose phone number is 804-698-1028. Calls and emails to them are very important.

While there are innumerable objectionable aspects of H.B. 2482 that would make it deeply damaging to animal welfare, chief among them are the following:

It would allow the person or entity charged with animal abuse to self-impound the allegedly abused animals (thereby enabling continued abuse during the investigation and prosecution of the alleged abuse crime).

It would return the abused animals to the person or entity convicted of animal abuse so that the person or entity could sell the animals (and, of course, continue to abuse them).

It would allow convicted abusers to have animals in the future.

It would eliminate the ability of a private humane society to assist with these abuse cases by providing care and adoption.

It would eliminate all references to “seizure” and would replace them with the word “forfeiture” to indicate that animals are "assets" and therefore should be treated like cars, jewelry, money, etc.

It would permit pet dealers and pet stores to continue to sell animals even following a conviction of abuse, cruelty or neglect.

Please call and write these Delegates as if abused animals’ lives depended on it because they do.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

January 21, 2011

Last year we launched the Richmond SPCA Supper Club, and it was a big success, raising over $5,000 to benefit our organization. It is starting back up again this winter, and we gather for our first evening out at Enzo’s on Feb. 2. It’s an opportunity to meet friends and supporters at a different restaurant on the first Wednesday evening of the month, in turn helping to save the lives of more than 3,000 animals each year.

The idea for the Supper Club began in a board giving committee last year. The group’s dilemma was how to invite support from the public in a fun way, mutually-beneficial way. What could be better than to meet for a nice meal at different restaurants each month! It’s a real win-win situation because our partner restaurants get much-deserved publicity; the Richmond SPCA gains much-needed support to continue its programs and services; and diners enjoy companionship with friends and a delicious dinner out.

The restaurants that join our Supper Club agree to donate a part of the proceeds from the designated night to the Richmond SPCA. In turn, we promote the event through our newsletter (reaches 20,000 households), e-newsletter (reaches 10,000 people) and website. If you didn’t join us last year, you have another chance now to join in the fun! You can check out our website to see this year’s restaurants. If you are a restaurant owner interested in participating in the Richmond SPCA Supper Club please contact Nancy Bruni at nbruni@richmondspca.org or 804-521-1321. We are still seeking a partner restaurant for the month of December.

To receive monthly email reminders and get updates about featured menus and additions to our restaurant lineup, visit www.richmondspca.org/supperclub to join the Supper Club today. All of our partners are wonderful, local restaurants and many have small, intimate dining rooms, giving a warm and cozy atmosphere that makes reservations a must. We look forward to the first Wednesday of each month to enjoy a terrific meal in the company of fellow animal lovers and hope you'll make plans to be part of the Supper Club. When you reserve your table, please mention the Richmond SPCA!

We are incredibly grateful to our generous restaurant partners in the community. Thanks in advance to all of you for helping us have another successful Supper Club program this year.

Nancy Bruni is the manager of major gifts at the Richmond SPCA. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

January 20, 2011

This afternoon, 16 dogs arrived at our Robins-Starr Humane Center after having been rescued from two dreadful Missouri puppy mills by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). After living in deplorable conditions with no veterinary care or human affection at a mass dog breeding operation for years, these pets have now arrived safely at a much brighter future – one where they will know safety and love for the first time in their lives.

HSUS contacted us last week to ask for our help in transferring these precious pets into our care as we have done a number of times for them in the past. After the Missouri Department of Agriculture did not renew the licenses of the two large-scale breeding operations where the dogs once lived in misery, the puppy mills closed. HSUS personnel travelled to Missouri to provide temporary shelter, initial veterinary care and transport to about 80 dogs so that they could be placed with private humane organizations like the Richmond SPCA.

Since late 2007, our organization has saved the lives of nearly 200 dogs rescued from abusive puppy mills.

Dogs rescued from commercial breeding operations typically require extensive medical and behavioral rehabilitation due to the unspeakably poor conditions in which they are forced to live. Our dedicated veterinary and animal care teams are making each of our new arrivals comfortable and are evaluating their health so that we can begin to deliver them essential treatment before we place them in loving, permanent homes.

The rescue of these particular little dogs is especially noteworthy. In November 2010, Proposition B, the public referendum known as the Puppy Mill Cruelty Act, in Missouri – which is home to 30 percent of the nation’s commercial breeding operations – passed. It established enforceable standards for large-scale dog breeding facilities and required that they provide dramatically increased cage space, solid flooring, adequate veterinary care, nutritious food, clean drinking water and protection from the elements. While Prop B does not take effect until this November, some puppy mills that were already terribly substandard have recognized that they will not be able to meet the higher standards within the next 10 months and have decided to close. To read a prior blog I wrote about Prop B, click here.

The loving arms of the Richmond SPCA have wrapped around these 16 pets, who join more than 250 other dogs and cats presently in our care. They have been brave little survivors to get this far and we will make sure that they now get much needed care and loving homes for the remainder of their lives. The support of our community makes lifesaving successes like this possible.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

We are so incredibly lucky that the community continues to support and sustain our cause at the Richmond SPCA. Through direct gifts, donations, and attending our many special events, it's clear many share our conviction that every life is precious.

We take pride in the fact that we are able to host two of the most popular dog-friendly events in Richmond each year – The Fur Ball in October and the Dog Jog and 5K Run in March. These two events are huge fundraisers for the shelter, collectively bringing in well over $500,000! Not only do these events allow us to meet the many dedicated pet-owners in our community, but they also help to support and sustain our mission.

YOU are the key ingredient to our success, so in this post, we are highlighting our Ninth Annual Dog Jog and 5K Run set for Saturday, March 19, 2011 here at the Robins-Starr Humane Center. Where else can you run a fast 5K race on a flat course, take a leisurely 1 mile walk, AND include your furry friend in the festivities as well?! We make it all possible at this fun, family event!

There are many ways to participate:

You can run, jog or walk the 5K.

You can walk with your dog in the 1-mile Dog Jog.

You can join a team and help fundraise from near or afar.

You can attend the Holiday Barn Pet Resorts Vendor Fair.

You can participate in a raffle for a one-week stay at Cypress Pointe Resort in Orlando, Florida!

All of these activities help support the thousands of animals cared for each year by the Richmond SPCA!

And, if you know of a business or group that would like to sponsor the event, please send direct them to Jenni Booker, Manager of Community Development at jbooker@richmondspca.org or 521-1318. We are always looking for new ways to partner with our community!

To learn more and sign up online for the event, visit www.richmondspca.org/race, and take a moment to like the Dog Jog page on Facebook too. We’ll be posting regular updates, and you can share photos, training tips and fundraising ideas.

We can’t wait to see you in March!

Jenni Booker is the manager of community development and events. To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

January 17, 2011

One of the many things that we have to be proud of about the Richmond SPCA is that we have been chosen by Charity Navigator as one of its Four Star Charities. The four star rating means that the organization has been judged to be “exceptional.” By this, they mean that it is a charity that exceeds industry standards and outperforms most charities in its cause. There are only 1726 four star charities in the country and we are one of only seven in this community. We are the only animal charity in this community that has a four star rating.

This rating is important to us because we believe that donors have a right to know that the hard-earned dollars that they give us are used as effectively and reliably as possible to achieve the life saving mission for animals that they care about. Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org) is a great on-line tool for checking on the efficiency and quality of performance of a charitable organization, whatever charitable field it is in, before writing a check to it.

Charity Navigator rates a charity by evaluating two broad areas of its financial health: its organizational efficiency (how well it functions on a daily basis) and its organizational capacity (how well it has sustained its programs and services and whether it is likely to be able to continue to do so). A set of financial ratios or performance categories are used to rate each of these two areas, and an overall rating is then issued that combines the charity's performance in both areas. Four stars is the highest such rating. The ratings reflect how efficiently Charity Navigator believes a particular charity will use financial support given to it currently and to what extent the charity is sustaining and growing its programs and services over time. It provides a wonderful aid to donors in their efforts to insure that they engage in intelligent and thoughtful philanthropy. For a more detailed explanation of how the rating is done, look at this link.

We are dedicated to running this organization with the utmost professionalism and integrity. It is a top priority for me and for all of our management staff that we operate efficiently with respect to every expenditure and that we are fiscally responsible and transparent to our donors and community. While many people like the idea of an all volunteer organization, it is unlikely that any organization of size would be able to run effectively without a paid professional staff, and that staff must be paid adequately to allow the organization to recruit and retain capable and experienced people.

The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and we are deeply rewarded that the Richmond SPCA has been recognized as one of the most exceptionally efficient charities in the country by a highly professional source of analysis such as Charity Navigator. Our four star rating matters so much because it means that we use every dollar given us with great effectiveness to save the most animals’ lives possible. And that, for us all, is truly the bottom line.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

January 14, 2011

Did you know the Richmond offers regular classes that focus on nothing but tricks and performance skills and that we regularly place dogs in local commercials and photo shoots? We do!! Dogs of all shapes and sizes are welcome and fun is guaranteed. These classes are wonderful for almost every dog and every human — but for me, the real fun has been watching a few specific types of dogs thrive in this environment.

Smart Dogs

We seem to have some really really clever dogs taking our Tricks for Treats classes these days and for them, the structure of our classes has worked really well. These are the dogs who get into trouble at home if left to their own devices, because they just can’t do nothing and they are endlessly creative at coming up with their own “activities” if they don’t have some provided. These dogs catch on SO quickly during training and excel at adding their own special “flair” to even the standard tricks. We have a bunch of these superstars in classes now.

Shy Dogs

For some dogs, the activity of an agility or flyball class is just too much activity or too much movement or just too much of everything for now. For these dogs, tricks classes can offer the perfect solution. They get to come to a class and get lots of attention and reinforcement in an environment that they can handle, and they get to learn new behaviors that they can show off in any number of other environments. To watch shy dogs like this start to wag their tails when the training begins and look ever so pleased with themselves while performing is truly a rewarding thing. Many have gone on (or back) to other classes and done very well with their newfound confidence.

Exuberant Dogs

These dogs are the “wild” ones — and I say that with great affection. For these dogs, sitting still in any class is difficult and they appear to need to move, move, move. Tricks classes seem to work well for these dogs on two levels. For one, these classes allow the handler to “train” for virtually all of the hour, so there is very little downtime like there might be in a class where one dog performs at a time. For two, some of the tricks we teach allow the dog to expend all that extra energy (spin, twirl, jump, speak, play the piano, etc) and other tricks (nap, wave, shake, turn on the light) allow the dog to develop the focus and impulse control skills that she so badly needs. All are taught in a fun environment, so the dogs are thrilled with the plan.

Crossover Dogs

Older punishment-based training methods (taught for many years and still inexplicably ingrained in parts our culture) involved “correcting” the dog for virtually every behavior that wasn’t what the owner had in mind, which (sadly) resulted in a whole lot of corrections for many of our canine friends. These corrections were not much fun for either dog or human, with the result being that many of us did less training than we could or would have liked. Newer reward-based methods (based solidly on scientific rules of learning) are highly effective AND much more fun. Instead of saying “no” all the time, we simply teach the dog what we want them to do in given situations and then help them to get good at those skills. Simple strategy — but it works really well. Watching dogs who have previously been trained using old school methods (successfully or not) get “hooked” on this new training is one of my favorite parts of working with dogs. They look SO very proud of themselves and get increasingly relaxed in a training environment. Watching them start to “offer” new behaviors on their own as training progresses and learn skills at an accelerated rate is truly one of the joys of my job. If you have one of these dogs and would like to see what I mean, just give me a call. Nothing would make me happier!

For information on all of the classes we offer at the Richmond SPCA, visit our web site at www.richmondspca.org/classes. Currently, our Tricks for Treats and Advanced Tricks for Treats classes are being taught on Thursday nights at 6 and 7:15 p.m. respectively and will be starting again on Feb. 3. Check your calendar and come join the fun!

SPECIAL INVITATION — The Richmond SPCA is thrilled to be hosting Silvia Trkman for a series of seminars in February. Silvia is from Slovenia and has been on the Slovenian World Agility Team since 1997. She is a nine-time National Champion and a two-time World Champion and has competed in agility at the International level with a Samoyed, two Pyrenean Shepherds and a Border Collie. Silvia is almost as well known for the relationship she has built with her dogs and for the amazing tricks they can perform as she is for her phenomenal success in agility. For more information on Silvia, visit her extensive website: http://silvia.trkman.net/ and be sure to watch some of her trick videos. To enroll in any of her Richmond seminars (working or audit spots available), please visit our web site (www.richmondspca.org/classes) and look at the February schedule. We’d love to have you join us!

Sarah Babcock is the chief of education and training at the Richmond SPCA. To read Sarah's biography or those of our other regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

January 13, 2011

Happy New Year to Richmond pet parents! Now is the time to make some resolutions regarding the health, safety and happiness of your pet(s). It’s not too late to make 2011 the best year ever for the four-legged members of your family. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Health

Food: resolve to put your pet(s) on a diet if they need one. According to experts, 80% of our pets are overweight or could stand to lose a few pounds — and they can’t do it on their own. Measure food amounts closely and avoid feeding too many “treats” or scraps from the table. Or if you are using treats for your training purposes (hooray for you — see below), reduce the amount you feed at meals accordingly.

Exercise: resolve to get your dog more exercise in the New Year. Almost all of our dogs (my own included) would be happier and healthier with more regular walks or more frequent games of fetch. Resolve to make these part of your weekly schedule and everyone will benefit.

Vet Care: resolve to help your pet(s) stay healthy in the New Year. Catch up on shots and vet visits if you have fallen behind on those, and make plans to schedule them as your veterinarian recommends. Be sure you have heartworm and flea/tick prevention plans in place and that they happen every month when they are scheduled. Your pet will thank you for keeping him healthy and itch-free in 2011. For information about low-cost veterinary services provided by the Richmond SPCA, visit us here: www.richmondspca.org/wellness .

Pet Safety

ID Tags : check your pets' ID tags to be sure they are up-to-date and legible. And if tags have gone missing (or you never had them), NOW is the time to mend your ways. ID tags on a well-fitted collar are the single best means of ensuring your pet will get returned if he or she ever goes missing.

Microchips: be sure all of your pets have been microchipped and that their microchips are appropriately registered. Collars and tags (however well-fitting) can be removed or can slip off, so having a microchip becomes an important second step toward getting them returned in the event they should ever get lost. For information on walk-in microchipping services provided by the Richmond SPCA, visit us here: www.richmondspca.org/wellness .

Licensing: resolve to get your pet licensed in the city or county where you live. The cost is minimal and the funds are used within your local area to support the good work of the city/county animal control agency.

Yard and House Check: imagine that your pet has gone missing (i.e., escaped from the house or yard when your back was turned) and examine the area closely to see where or how they could possibly have gotten out. Finding holes in the fence (or under the fence if you own a small terrier) BEFORE your pet escapes is always a better plan than wishing you had noticed them AFTER the pet discovers them. And while you’re at it, check the house and yard for anything that might represent a safety risk for your pet. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Pet Happiness

Cleanliness: check all of your pet areas (litter box, beds, crates, etc) to be sure they are clean and comfortable for your pet. When washing dog linens in your washing machine, add ½ cup of Nature’s Miracle to the bleach dispenser to eliminate any lingering odors.

Grooming: take whatever steps you need to take to be sure your pet is groomed for health and comfort. Weekly brushing may be adequate for some dogs, but long-haired breeds will probably require more than that. Be sure nails are trimmed and teeth are cleaned regularly – or get help from your veterinarian or groomer to get these things done. Again, just a little time avoiding problems will be a lot easier than fixing them later.

Quality Time and Training: resolve to spend more quality time with your pet(s) in the New Year. Ask your own pet(s) what quality time would look like for them (i.e., more walks, more agility or trick or flyball training, more classes, more play sessions, more cuddling, etc.) and then do your best to find time to fit it in. If you need help with behavior issues, don’t hesitate to contact the Richmond SPCA via the behavior helpline (804-643-SPCA or behaviorhelpline@richmondspca.org). And if you want information on all of the fun classes and seminars we offer, visit our web site here: www.richmondspca.org/classes.

Do Your Part toward Ending Pet Overpopulation

Spay or Neuter your Pet: there are still millions of animals across the United States in need of homes, including dogs and cats of all shapes and sizes and breeds and ages. Do your part to reduce this number by spaying or neutering your own pet(s) and encouraging others to do the same. Need help with spaying and neutering? You can find more information here: www.richmondspca.org/clinic.

Volunteer: consider volunteering your time at a shelter or other humane organization in 2011. The Richmond SPCA would never be able to do all that we do without the help of our amazing volunteers. If you are already one of them, THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts! If you are not, please contact us to find out more about how you can help (www.richmondspca.org/volunteer).

Happy New Year to all!!

Sarah Babcock is the chief of education and training at the Richmond SPCA. To read Sarah's biography or those of our other regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.

January 11, 2011

The beginning of a new year brings a natural inclination to reflect on the one that has come to a close. All manner of top 10 lists were created to highlight and memorialize all things 2010 (Time Magazine even has "The Top 10 Everything of 2010"). Here at the Richmond SPCA, we think in lives saved when we look back at a year. During 2010 we placed 3,154 dogs and cats in loving homes, and each and every pet who goes home is important to us. Each animal was loved during his or her stay at the Robins-Starr Humane Center, and as we cared for them and bonded with them, there were particular adoptions that carry additional meaning for our staff.

I asked our staff to nominate the animals who stood out to them and have assembled the following - Top Ten Adoptions of 2010.

10. Ray: It was hard not to fall in love with this chocolate lab, named for the musician who shared his lack of sight. Ray found a home with a family who saw past his limitations and worked to accommodate his special needs.

9. Frimbo: Harmony in our catillions can be a delicate balance, and Frimbo was one cat who tended to upset the others because she wanted to play constantly. A home with another cat of the same temperment - Petey, also an alumnus of the Richmond SPCA - was just what this spunky kitty needed!

8. Rina: She may have been the most-featured dog, from blogs to radio and TV coverage, Rina didn't lack for exposure in her quest to find a home. Her adoption story was highlighted again on our blog in November after our foster care coordinator made Rina a permanent member of her own family.

7. Bubba Gump: The blog and video of this special guy getting hydrotherapy to recuperate from his orthopedic surgery launched him into hearts of many who never met him. His adoption was a success for both our medical treatment and behavioral training teams. Our gratitude also goes to the donor who provided therapy sessions at Paws to Swim.

6. Lucas: This guy is proof that once you get past a gruff exterior, sometimes you find a big softie. Lucas had serious behavior issues to overcome, including dog aggression, and our trainers devoted themselves to developing a management plan his new family would be able to continue. He's now in a home with a single mom and her three daughters who absolutely love the lap dog he has become.

5. Susie Q: A senior cat with a "finicky" personality might not be at the top of everyone's lovable list, yet Susie Q managed to be a favorite with our staff, even those who might have been grazed by a bite in her spunky moments. It was no surprise that a former staff member was the one to give her a home.

4. Mona: Known for her "bedroom eyes," everyone loved Mona's face, but she was rather particular about making friends. Although she has a strong cat-itude and isn't particularly cuddly, there's a special person to match every special cat, and Mona met her match in May.

3. Vincent: On Saturday March 20, thousands of pet lovers were gathered outside our humane center for the Dog Jog and 5K Run, while inside, a family was falling in love with a handsome, one-eared hound. He had come to us with severe, untreated allergies that had taken away his hair, but by the time he left us, Vincent looked amazing. He'd become such a well-known favorite, his family created a Facebook page so we could all keep up with Vincent's Forever Home.

2. Mittens: In spite of being a friendly and playful cat, it took three years for Mittens to catch the eye of just the right adopter. Mittens' need for a home with no other cats and history of urinary tract infections seemed to cause him to be passed by in spite of his great feline-ality, but we never had a doubt that the right home would find him, which it did in December, just in time for the holidays

1. Sara Lee: The first emailed nomination said simply, "Nobody didn't love Sara Lee!" Nearly every other staff member who submitted a nomination included her in some way as well. It seemed a matter of fact that this gentle mannered diabetic German shepherd mix had been our top placement of the year. The story of her placement was also one of our most-read blogs of 2010.

In December, her new family sent this update:

"You should see Sara Lee. She LOVES playing in the backyard in the snow....absolutely in her element.

We sent off her DNA for analysis..........She is part Chow, Bernese Mountain Dog, Boxer, English Setter, Lab, and Rhodesian Ridgeback!!!! whatever her genetic heritage, she is the best dog, but of course you know that. We have her scheduled for the preassessment class to get her certified through Delta to be a therapy dog. She's a natural.

She has grown quite close with Sgt. Pepper, our Border Collie/Newfie mix. She has also fallen in love with our Ethan Allen sofa in the family room!

Please let everyone know she has adapted so well, and seems to be content and happy. I walk her two miles in the morning and two in the afternoon. She runs and plays in the back yard, loves to hang out in front of the french doors soaking up the southern exposure sun coming through, and I already mentioned her love of the sofa. We could not feel more blessed. I want to thank you again for saving her. We want to share her with the world."

Tabitha Frizzell Hanes is the director of communication for the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our commenting guidelines.

January 06, 2011

Editor's note: In October three new veterinarians joined the growing Department of Veterinary Services at the Richmond SPCA, which provides treatment for homeless pets in our care, surgeries through Smoky's Spay/Neuter Clinic, and examinations to pets of the public through our Wellness Clinic. This week each of our newest veterinarians will share the story of how she became involved in animal welfare.

I feel I have come full circle to find myself working in a humane society. It was a journey that took me 15 and ½ years, and started with a very special dog.

Back in 1995, I was 21 years old and graduating college. I had a degree in mathematics, had landed an excellent teaching job in the same school where I had enjoyed my student teaching, and was heading for a master’s degree from a premier teacher’s program. Life was changing rapidly. But honestly, the thing that excited me the most was not the promise of my first steady paycheck and life on my own. What excited me the most was the idea of life with a dog.

I had waited my whole life to get my first dog, since I had a father allergic to fur and feathers. In anticipation of my May graduation, I started searching the local humane society in February. Near the end of April, I had found a special dog and couldn’t wait anymore (I only had to hide him in the dorm a few weeks!). He was a charming Schnauzer mix named Toto.

Owning a dog was all I dreamed it would be for 21 years. I found myself running home at the end of the day to companionship like I had never known. As much as I loved teaching, after my first year as a teacher I knew I would soon part that life. I saw all the others around me whose lives had also been made better because they also had a furry friend waiting for them to come home at the end of their day. I held Toto in my arms and felt elated as I looked into his patient, wise eyes and told him I had decided to re-enter college as part of a pre-vet program.

I loved every minute of vet school. I am still so thankful to have made it there and feel so privileged to have earned my degree. At graduation I found a career that was challenging, fast-paced, and sometimes (though not always) glamorous.

I went on to an “elite” internship in emergency medicine, and have enjoyed practicing in some of the largest, most well respected referral centers in the country. I’ve been Chief of Staff and enjoyed success in general practice as well as emergency and critical care. This career has given me so much. But in the past year it also started to take its toll.

Facing long hours at work with the personal challenge of raising young children alone while my husband was deployed, I found the same work that challenged and rewarded me was also tiring me. I planned a change for when my husband returned to the states. I needed to find balance again and to bring the joy back to my work.

I knew immediately that shelter medicine, while completely different than anything I had done before in my veterinary career, was just the thing for me. I wanted to be reminded about the reason I went into veterinary medicine in the first place. To help dogs like my Toto. The ones that need us the most.

And I have been brought back. I am back to the same joy that kicked off my career in veterinary medicine. To knowing I am a part of saving lives like his. To knowing they are really the ones that save us.

Dr. Allison Baldassari is an associate veterinarian at the Richmond SPCA.To read the biographies of our regular bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name.